Newscorp Chairman Rupert Murdoch has officially purchased a 13-acre winery and mansion in Bel Air, California. Property records and the Los Angeles Times show that Murdoch paid $28.8 million for the property, which was listed earlier this year at $29.5 million.
His new acquisition is an award-winning winery and elegant main residence that make up the historic Moraga Vineyards Estate. Hidden away in the heart of Bel Air, the property has a 7,500-square-foot main residence with 3 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a guesthouse and a swimming pool.
The property’s winery operations include an on-site wine cave with significant wine inventory and a 4,400 sq ft office building, currently used as the winery sales office, within 1/2 mile of the property.
Aside from his Newscorp duties, 82-year-old Murdoch is chief executive of 21st Century Fox. According to media reports, the billionaire media mogul’s name has been floated around as a potential buyer for the Tribune Co. newspaper company, which includes the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.
Outside the boardroom, Murdoch is currently experiencing some personal woes. He and his wife Wendy Deng Murdoch split after 14 years of marriage. Many thought the divorce would be quick and easy due to an iron-clad prenuptial agreement, but Ms. Deng has recently hired a new high-powered divorce attorney, William Zabel, suggesting that the divorce proceedings have taken an acrimonious turn.
Jim Kline of Surterre Properties Inc. represented the sellers and Murdoch was represented by Delphine Mann of Coldwell Banker-BH North.
